Oof. I don’t know about you, but I’m glad to see the back of winter. I always find it difficult to navigate, but this year the season knocked me for six. The weather may not have got the memo yet, but I’m very ready for spring. One thing that’s kept me going since the start of the year is my commitment to prioritising creative play in 2024.
‘My guiding word for the year ahead is ’play’. I want more play and experimentation in my professional life and plenty of creative play outside of work. I want to play around with ‘frivolous’ things like fashion, beauty and the way our home looks and feels. I’m also thinking about playfulness as an attitude or mindset. I’m determined to create lots of opportunities for light-hearted fun, whimsy and magic. Above all, I want to focus on doing things I enjoy with unashamed enthusiasm and exuberance.’
Just over three months in, here’s what I’ve learned so far…
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You can get a surprising amount of crafting done in just 15 minutes a day…
In terms of building a habit, I’m very into the idea of spending 1% of the day on creative play. In other words, 15 minutes. Do this for seven days, and you’ll have spent just over 1% of your week. For me, this feels nice and achievable.
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However, my brain prefers long stretches of time dedicated to making…
That’s when I really feel the benefits, so I’m trying to carve out more time when I can. I’m lucky my current season of life {with teenage children who have a better social life than I do} makes this relatively easy to do. That said, I still have to set the intention and focus on making it happen. When it comes to consistently prioritising my own needs, I am a work in progress.
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Keeping supplies visible and easily accessible makes making more likely to happen…
The supplies I need for my current scrapbook project live on my desk and my trusty craft trolley is always within reach. I’ve also been trying to keep the kitchen store cupboard well stocked with baking supplies so I can rustle something up whenever the mood takes me.
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The biggest thing holding me back is my own perfectionism…
I’m thinking about trying some looser, messier forms of scrapbooking/mixed media to work on this. I might even buy a cheap canvas and just play around with some paint.
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Focussing on creativity and playfulness is making mundane tasks more fun…
I have to cook dinner, but trying new recipes and playing with unfamiliar ingredients adds a layer of fun {mostly at weekends – midweek meals still feel like a grind, so that’s something to work on in the coming months}. Rachael Renae has been inspiring me in this area, especially this Reel she shared about making her recent trip to Paris more playful.
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Creativity breeds creativity…
Honestly, once you start, the ideas keep coming! There are so many things I want to make in the coming months. I’ve started a series of Reels to share it all with you. Here’s what I made in January, February and March.
- How do you feel about creative play? What have you made recently?
Love Audrey xxx
P.S. Some words I wrote about picking up a new hobby.
P.P.S. A version of this post originally appeared in Letters From Love Audrey, my monthly newsletter filled with creative inspiration for you and your business. If you’ve enjoyed reading this and would like more of the same in your inbox, you can sign-up here.
